Here is an interesting article describing how spyware and adware makers are earning money.

Now BlockBusters may appear to be a decent company to most, but their marketing people have been tricked into believing that affiliate marketing works for them.

It doesn’t, and they’re swindled just as much as the poor PC owner who has his computer infested with crap.

How to stop this? Well, stop believing affiliate marketing works. For a marketeer, this is incredibly difficult, I’ve found. They’re all saying “but surely this one is legit, they told me so!”. Where did I experience this? I’m sorry I can’t name and shame this company publicly, but believe me, it’s a big one. And besides, it’s an ailment that plagues just about all marketing folks.

So the solution remains: if you’re in marketing, kill yourself.